Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday directed elected representatives and officials of municipal corporations and municipalities across the state to monitor the upkeep of completed development works with the same rigour applied to planning new projects. The directive came during a ceremony in Gandhinagar where cheques totalling ₹3,850 crore were distributed to urban local bodies under the Swarnim Jayanti Chief Minister Urban Development Scheme.

Key Directives from the Chief Minister

Patel emphasised that the availability of funds must be matched by proper utilisation and quality execution. 'Along with planning new works, the condition of old and completed works should also be taken care of,' he said, urging elected representatives and officials to jointly conduct site visits to ensure projects meet required standards.

The Chief Minister also instructed urban local bodies to ensure that newly constructed roads in cities and municipal corporation areas were built using reinforced cement concrete (RCC). He called for stricter action in cases of negligence related to urban cleanliness.

Fund Allocation Breakdown

Of the ₹3,850 crore disbursed, ₹2,992 crore was allocated to 17 municipal corporations and ₹858 crore to 152 municipalities. Patel noted that the state had moved from a time when town budgets were measured in lakhs to an era where crores were being allocated for urban development in a single day.

He credited sound financial management under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that funds for public welfare works in cities and municipal corporations were no longer in short supply.

Green Cover and Climate Focus

Patel stressed the need to expand green cover in urban areas, noting that the state government had decided to reserve approximately one per cent of land in newly developed town planning schemes for tree plantation. He said this provision should be used to create gardens, parks, and oxygen parks for public benefit.

Urban Development and Finance Minister Kanu Desai echoed the call for quality, stating that while fund shortages were no longer a constraint, special care was needed to ensure works met higher quality standards. Desai also urged local bodies to factor in climate change in urban development planning and to strengthen cleanliness efforts under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative.

Broader Significance

The scale of Tuesday's disbursement underscores a significant shift in Gujarat's urban financing capacity. Notably, the emphasis on maintenance of existing infrastructure — alongside new construction — reflects a growing policy acknowledgement that capital expenditure alone does not guarantee service delivery. With citizen expectations rising, as Patel himself observed, the pressure on urban local bodies to deliver visible, lasting results has never been higher.